Racers as young as 7 years old are among the 250 members of the Canberra Kart Racing Club. Photos: George Tsotsos.
Canberra’s motorsport community’s dream of bringing Canberra Kart Racing Club’s circuit up to the international standard is on the home stretch as a major upgrade and extension to Circuit Mark Webber gets underway this month.
ACT Minister for Planning and Land Management Mick Gentleman and Canberra Kart Racing Club track extension committee member James Ordish broke ground on the site last week to mark the start of the construction, which was an ACT Government 2016 election pledge.
The $200,000 investment from the ACT Government will see a 400-metre track expansion towards Sutton Road which will lengthen Circuit Mark Webber from its current 751 metres to an international standard of 1151 metres.
By bringing the facility up to international standards, the Canberra Kart Club and Karting Australia aim to host a range of events including state and national championships as well as international competitions, which would bring hundreds of competitors to the region.
Canberra's Circuit Mark Webber to get international-standard upgrades
Great news for motorsport fans – a world class race track is coming to Canberra, with a major upgrade and extension of Circuit Mark Webber set to get underway this month. The upgrades will allow the ACT to host elite level motor racing which will attract international competition and bring major economic benefits. Here’s Mick Gentleman MLA talking about what’s ahead.
Posted by The RiotACT on Sunday, January 13, 2019
Mr Gentleman said the upgrades will allow Canberra to deliver elite level competitions, which will bring major economic benefits to the ACT.
“I have a passion for motor racing and am proud to support the Canberra Kart Racing Club, which is a hub of development and growth for motorsports in the ACT and surrounding region,” Mr Gentleman said.
“Bringing the track to an international standard will attract kart racers from across the country and the world to compete at state, national and international levels.”
ACT Minister for Planning and Land Management Mick Gentleman broke ground on the site last week.
Canberra Kart Racing Club has a proud history of producing excellent motorsport racers, including Australian motorsports legend and local Mark Webber, who started out racing down in Queanbeyan.
The Pialligo racetrack is where Mark Webber first learnt to race before the Queanbeyan local went on to race for several Formula 1 teams.
The 250-strong Canberra Kart Racing Club members include 7-year-old kids and Mr Gentleman believes an upgrade to the local circuit will help develop Canberra’s next Mark Webber.
“These upgrades are a great way to once again recognise Mark Webber’s outstanding career and his contribution to the sport,” Mr Gentleman said. “The track extension will increase the profile of Kart Racing in the ACT and provide more opportunities for young racers to make a start in their motorsports careers, just like Mark.”
Construction on Circuit Mark Webber is due to be completed later this year.
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